Bengals sign Karlos Dansby; Brandon LaFell still in play

The Cincinnati Bengals appear to have struck a deal with free agent linebacker Karlos Dansby.

According to Bengals.com's Geoff Hobson, talks with Dansby have heated up to the point he may soon become a Bengal.

Talks with Dansby have heated up enough That Bengals may be about to bolster LB spot.

— Geoff Hobson (@GeoffHobsonCin) March 29, 2016

And Ian Rapoport says the deal is done:

The #Bengals are signing LB Karlos Dansby today, source said. The former #Browns defender visited last week.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 29, 2016

This comes after Hobson wrote on Monday that Dansby and free agent receiver Brandon LaFell could be signed by Cincinnati soon.

They’re talking with LaFell and it looks to be a good fit, but at this point in free agency the market price has changed and there is probably some re-calibration going on. Same thing, I imagine, with Dansby. Those two deals look like they could get done in a bit.

Dansby was the Browns' leading tackler in 2015, registering 108 combined tackles, three interceptions, two defensive touchdowns and two forced fumbles. Dansby has spent time with the Cardinals, Dolphins and Browns during his 12 year NFL career.

During that time, Dansby has recorded 1,208 tackles, 41 sacks, 69 pass defenses, 19 interceptions, six defensive scores and 18 forced fumbles. He was released by the Browns this offseason as they opt for a youth movement and don't have room for the 34-year-old backer.

But a win-now team like the Bengals looking to contend could absolutely use him, and Dansby in turn has said he wants want to play for a contending team, like the Bengals. There's also familiarity between the two as Dansby has faced Cincinnati six times, four coming in the past two years.

"It's time for me to go get a ring,'' Dansby said after being released by the Browns. "This is going to get me closer to my destiny and I'm cool with that... Yeah, I think the Bengals are licking their chops right now. I hope they are. We'll see what it is."

As for LaFell, he's the kind of veteran pass-catcher the Bengals desperately need after losing Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones this offseason. LaFell was a big-time player for the Patriots during their Super Bowl XLIX-winning season,

But after that 74-catch, 953-yard and seven-score season in 2014, LaFell followed that up by playing in just 11 games and making 37 catches for 515 yards in 2015. A foot injury derailed his 2015 season as he missed offseason workouts and spent the first half of the season on the PUP list.